Vitamin B6 status in children with bronchial asthma

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to assess vitamin B6 status in children with bronchial asthma to justify its use as an adjunct to theophylline therapy. It included 30 asthmatics and 20 healthy children as controls. Patients were 17 males and 13 females with ages ranging from 6 to 12 years [median 10 years]. Diagnosis was based on clinical criteria of asthma, pulmonary function tests and the exclusion of other chest diseases by chest X-ray, complete hemogram and ESR. Patients were divided into two distinct clinical groups 17 mild and 13 moderate asthmatics, while severe asthmatics and those who received theophylline [or one of its derivatives] four weeks prior to the study were all excluded. Blood samples were taken from all children at diagnosis. Levels of PLP in mild asthmatics did not show any significant difference from controls, while in moderate asthmatics, these levels were significantly lower than the controls. It was concluded that potentially depressed vitamin B6 status in bronchial asthma might be aggravated by theophylline therapy. Vitamin B6 supplementation to asthmatic children treated by theophylline is suggested